After a thorough joint investigation spanning several years, two Sparta, Georgia, men have received lengthy prison sentences for their roles in what's come to be known as the Georgia Lottery fraud. Brothers Quinton Watts, 27, and Phillip Watts, 31, were convicted on a slew of felony charges, including racketeering and lottery ticket fraud, and will face two decades behind bars.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) began assisting in the inquiry at the behest of the Georgia Lottery on August 5, 2024. It was determined that crimes stretched across more than 12 counties, beginning in June 2021 and culminating in September 2024, with the Watts brothers at the center of it all. They were exploiting video poker-style machines known as Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMs), which, while regulated by the Georgia Lottery and commonly situated in gas stations and convenience stores, are not legally allowed to dispense cash. After meticulous investigation, carried by multiple agencies over 12 counties, two Sparta brothers found themselves ensnared by the long arm of justice following a multi-year lottery fraud spree.
Following an indictment by a Columbia County grand jury, Superior Court Judge Barry A. Fleming handed down the sentences on Thursday. As per the GBI's press release, Quinton was given 20 years to serve in prison, followed by a 45-year probation period, while Phillip received the same prison term with 35 years of probation. On top of their prison sentences, the brothers have been ordered to pay upwards of $86,000 in restitution to the Georgia Lottery Commission, and they've been hit with some spatial restrictions – they're banned from Columbia County, cannot enter any stores linked to the case, and they're forbidden from engaging with COAMs any further.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Andy Pascual led the charge against the Watts brothers, collaborating closely with the GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, the Georgia Lottery Commission, and the local sheriff's office. Indeed, this unit, staffed by agents, an intelligence analyst, and support personnel, has a specific mandate to uphold the state's commercial gambling laws, especially pertaining to COAMs. As clearly stated by the law and reaffirmed by Fleming, those devices must only award points that players can exchange for in-store merchandise, gas, or lottery tickets—never cash. The brothers, sentenced for blatantly flouting these laws, are now paying the price for their unscrupulous actions.
